Winter is coming, time to dust off the Raven Guard!

Yello! whats poppin?

Well, I have been so distracted with Infinity that my Raven Guard have pretty much been ditched. I was looking at the pics last night and realised I had some nice Forge World stuff. Now I'm not going to lie, I watched a few 40K bat reps on Mini Wargaming last night, and, MAN, the game is SLOW, even when played at a fast pace! I hate the turn sequence, its so boring compared to the reaction based shooting in Infinity!! So the game is not drawing me in, and actually neither are the standard Marines... the models are meh compared to the magic that Corvus Belli can produce with metals. Unfortunately I'm a completionist and  I feel they are there at the back of my mind, constantly niggling me to get them done... so I think I'm going to blast on and get them shifted! I hopefully have a desert FAT mat arriving over the next week or so, so I may be able to talk someone into a game in the next month or so.

I want to try something out I saw on Beasts of  War... basically completely nicking the turn sequence off Bolt Action.You place tokens in a bag for the amount of units you have and randomly activate a unit once you have drawn it out of the bag. The units then complete the move shoot - or whatever the hell the sequences are now. I don't think it will alter the balance of the game and actually might make it more tactical. The bat reps I saw were pretty much rolling a lot of dice!! I haven't actually played since 5th ed and only tried 6th once and I found it to be totally bogged down with rules.. We shall see. 

Oh a quick tip on standard Marines, to make them look more anatomically correct use a small amount of green stuff to create a spacer for the abdomen off the legs and the same for the helmet... only needs a few mm but it takes that squashed look away... it looks better IMO...

Infinity, I'm almost fully painted and can whack paint jobs together as I need them now without to much bother. I have a Pan 0 force, but I'm going to wait until next year before I set to on that. My Combined army including the Morats can be added to and painted as and when. 

So updates soon...!

EDIT***

I have been digging around my cupboard and I think I have decided, Im not going to concentrate efforts in one area, instead do a little of everything. So this week im planning to get a couple of Raven Guard donw, and some Pan Oceania glued up... thats the plan...

I think Infinity is my primary system now...

Ive always been a 40k player, and dont get me wrong, I love the universe, models etc. But with all the crazy rumours, the two year shelf life, and the fact the few games I have had of 6th I found it a bit slow. Now I had 5th ed rules down, memorised and that always makes a system more fun, but I just havent found the want or need to scour the rules of 6th.

I actually got into Infinity as a secondry system to 40K, like a Spec Game, something as a fun distraction. Even though you use less models, the games really feel like they have some substance to them, you really have to think about what your doing. When I was a 40k regular, sometimes the games followed similar patterns (not to say I didnt have some great games - I did, some really good ones!). I just think 40k has turned into something Im not sure on anymore, and the cost.... wow the cost! I looked at doing a small WFB Esculation campaign my LGC, I started totting up these seemingly small monthly instalments.. I just thought nooo waaay!

Im not going all Hipsta, and my door is open to 40k, but it needs to be a different beast for me to be interested. and I will play some 5th ed games though with my gaming mates, if they are up for it... ooh and finish the Raven Guard... Every gamer should have a 40k force!

Anyway some newness:

Now I have been looking over the web for ways to improve my Morat force, and I think these guys may be the answer. The Daturazi can 5 man link team and auto hit smokes and are pretty hard to kill. The Yaoget are expensive spec ops guys that can see through smoke and are loaded with some cool weapons ( I also have the sniper so can 5 man link them as well). Finally the Rasyat is an airborn deployment and is basically bad martial arts guy.. so will drop in in behind unsupecting guys and do some Bruce Lee action... or shoot his Shot gun!

 This book is lovely! Infinity Campaign Paradiso, the writing is alot better than the other books.. Cant wait to do a campaign!!

Expect some heavy painting updates over the next month... want to clear my back log!

Thanks for looking!

Marts

(PS will show pics of my Weekend project over the next few weeks!)

I really have no idea what 40k is about anymore!! (not a rant, I need pointers!)

What with me playing Infinity a lot recently, and not really having played a game of 40k since the GT40K tourny back in 2011 at Maelstrom Games, I have seriously lost track of the game. There have been so many releases of codexs etc in the last 3 years not to mention a whole new edition, I think I am literally back at square one. Just like back in 1990 when I first walked into a GW and the hobby seemed so massive with loads of minis/books I have never seen before. I find it quite exciting in a way and I have decided to dig my neglected Raven Guard out over the bank holiday.

I will regularly play an all out Elysian force and an Ork force I will defo need some anti flyer (seriously have only played one game and I wasent to impressed with these rules - but that could be just not being used to it!). Just wondered if anyone wanted to have a look over this list - I do own all these models already so am ready to rock as it were. Plus whats going on with 7th, has it been confirmed for this year?? Comments welcome....

Raven Guard 1.5K Talon List

SM Captain
Artificer Armour
Thunderhammer
Jump Packs
155

Vanguard (7)
Jump Packs x7
Lightening Claws
Power Weapons x2
Melta bomb
219

Tactical Squad (10)
Lightening Claws x2
Melta
Missile Laucher
Flakk
Drop Pod
240

Tactical Squad (10)
Lightening Claws x2
Melta
Missile Laucher
Drop Pod
230

Sternguard (8)
Dual Claws
4x Combis
melta bomb
Drop Pod
296

Storm Talon
Typhoon Launcher
145

Storm Talon
Typhoon Launcher
145

Hunter
70

1500

Some more Raven Guard... and some Infinity...

Good weekend of nerdery, got to love this bad weather!!

Pretty damn pleased with these fellas, tho I think I took the pic to close up...

Also built these fellas last night. Was supposed to do the whole starter, but I have to admit they were an F ing bull cacker of a turd to put together. The detail and proportions are awesome though, which make my rines' look a bit clumsy when put next to them...

Test game of Infinity tomorrow night cant wait!

New Bases - Jungle, No Snow!

Yo

Their was something bugging me about my Cryx army which is why I havent painted anymore until I could put my finger on what. After watching Pirates of the Caribbean, I realised what. I was making a pirate themed army on snow bases! The theme just wasent working so I decided to make this test base with a theme of jungle.

I searched the web and noticed people have been using aquarium plants. Now I wasent totally sold because they were not realistic looking enough. Went to a local aquarium shop and bought some general on offer plastic plants. I decided to paint them and use a variety of flocks... Im pleased now and will continue on with the minis!

The UK 40K GT - Review and Pics Pt II

Here are some pics of my games:

First game I got mullered by a Seer Council on bikes, I could have done better I f I timed my Ghazza Nob Charge better... lost the core of them early on  and never really recovered.

Second Game - Blood Angels, I won this one, manged to contest his objective at the end. Ghazza and his Nobz made him deploy his Death company on his objective to get them off, so he never got chance to unleash his armies potential.

3rd Game - Fateweaver daemons. I have very little experiance against this army and it was kill points. A mixture of not enough experience against this army and being out combated made for a wipeout against me! boooooo ;)

Pick me game against my bro before we hit the bar! 

More of Ricky's Ad mechs...

I apologise to Brians army as the pics I took of the amazing freehand never came out! :( But still cool Khan UM army on bikes - very scary!

1st game on the sunday - BA home and away, we got a draw but traded objectives so at least we both tried!

Then two horrible losses after - I didnt take pics as I got tired!

Next batch is the army noms!

The UK40K GT - Review and Pics Pt I

Well what can I say, this is one of if not the best tournaments I have attended. Why? You ask. Was it because my list performed badly all weekend? - No. Was it the fact I finished 111th? Nope, it was the company, atmosphere and the well executed organisation.

The venue itself at Maelstrom is enough to compete with Warhammer World. It may not have as much bling, but it has a really authentic feel, great bar and excellent helpful non pushy staff. The store also opened until 1am (at least I think it was 1am) when we were turfed out!  (fair enough!)

The actual scenery is better than Warhammer World itself. Maelstrom has invested more on GW scenery than GW, and its painted with much more care. Also there's some lovely steam punk terrain that is beautifully made and painted. My only crit is they have painted and flocked the boards all exactly the same, which is very well done but it would be nice to have some variation.

I preferred the food as well - the canteen food at GW is, well, canteen food and makes 130 gamers flatulent! Buffet lunch on the sat, Lancashire hotpot for the evening meal washed down with a jam roly poly. Sunday a baked potato with cheese beans... all honest food.

I also made some great new friends as well as catching up with previous friends made on the tournament scene.

I would like to thank the organisers and staff at Maelstrom for a great weekend.

The pictures below are of the friday where my bro and me started the weekend with some games and where we made friends with Ricky Simms... and lead to some good banter for the weekend. A big up to Bryan Crew for making the trip from the USA via his wife in Geneva.

The pics are from the friday

Beer and warhammer - perfick!

Friendly game against my bro:

Richard Simms awesome Admech (Genestealer dex) army - and groin...

More pics tomorrow!

It's Snow Joke Pt III - This time its personal!!

Ok, I have been tinkering and tinkering trying to get an effect to work on my board which has been causing staining issues (due to the real soil and mixed herbs I originally used). After two coats of PVA, I got a nice ice effect. So I then spayed Skull white. I must admit it started to look great. Then I had the idea if I splodge some PVA over some patches I'll get an awesome melting snow/frost look. Im pretty pleased with the result...

I also tested a patch of PVA applied very thinnly and then some of this awesome snow flock thats miles better than GW's version and cheaper - and by better I mean it looks like snow, not white grass! result NO STAINING! It does howevr mean I have to go all over my board with a small brushh applying it :( bah it'll be worth it...

I feel as though Im on top of this now and although its not the thick snow I originally wanted I am going to get a really dramatic effect and I didnt have to buy more board!

It's Snow Joke - part II

Ok, the Bicarb works... kind of. I'm now having issues with my board colouring the stuff and I think its reacting as well because its not drying! It was orgianlly made with topsoil and PVA. It also has dried herbs and things on it....


So what I have decided to do is seal my boards with a big pot of PVA.... I hope this works!!


Im hoping to get all the boards done and scenery done this week. Then I can move onto making this into a snowy outpost. To do...

Fortress of Redemption
2x Bastions and all the gubbins that come with
Landing pad
Scratchbuild underground bunker entrances
Scratchbuild movable walls
Scratchbuild gate
Oh and... the big one that I have had for a few years now - PHAETON PATTERN SUB COMPLEX DELTA
and PHAETON PATTERN DEFENCE PLATFORM

So lots to get through, I am glad I have a new airbrush to help get through this! I may do a small 1K snow themed infantry based IG force, nothing fancy, just something to look good with the board!

Edit - Ahh damn I published this without any pics! (was supposed to press preview not post!) I was going to take some pics and post it later!! Sorry...

Pics from ToS and my opinion....

Sorry for the lack of updates, I was busy finishing my army for ToS which was this weekend. I'll start by saying I had a great time and I faced some cool opponents. But there were a couple of things I wasent happy about which I will explain after the pics!

Gaming wise I was a fail, but not all is lost as Im going to tweak the list and get rid of the shokk attack and add another Bigmek FFS. I shall be converting one tonight.

I ended up playing 4 DoW games which is horrible for my slow list and I need to be able to unbunch my stuff a bit so I can move up the table faster. The other Big Mek should sort this.

My stuff...

My bros stuff.. his blog here

And my good friend Tim Davis (sorry for lack of pics - they all came out wobbly!) His blog here..

As for the tourny, I did enjoy myself. The few things I would change are the random missions. I got four DoW which kind of spoilt my gaming a bit as it really hurts my list. The next thing is the best opponent. Either score every opponent with a good and allow one very good score per player. If you were up against an A hole then score them with nothing. Otherwise go back to VPs, as only being allowed to score one opponent is not fair on the final score. The organisation needs to be better, they got the wrong result of the winner, ran out of ink for the printer for the certificates (they did that at heat 2 last year as well!).

But as I say I had a great weekend as it was at Warhammer World and some really good games.!